Morning comes too soon. The crystal formations in our chamber brighten gradually, mimicking natural sunrise. I wake up with Irene curled against me, her engagement ring catching the soft light.
"Morning," she murmurs against my chest.
"Morning, my love." I smiled.
She smiles at that, looking up at me. "I could get used to waking up like this."
"Good. You'll be doing it for the rest of our lives."
We take our time getting ready, stealing kisses between getting dressed.
Andrius is waiting for us in the main hall when we emerge. The massive wolf looks well-rested, and there's something that might be amusement in his ancient eyes.
"Good morning," he rumbles. "I trust you both slept well?"
"Very well, thank you," Irene says, and I catch her trying not to blush.
"Excellent." Andrius's gaze drops to Irene's left hand, where the ring gleams softly. His ears perk up with what's definitely surprise.
"Congratulations are in order, then my friend."
"Thank you."
After a few more pleasantries, We bid farewell to him.
The journey towards the southern territories felt different this time. Maybe it's because Irene's hand is in mine, or maybe it's because I can't stop stealing glances at the ring on her finger. Either way, I'm pretty damn content.
It doesn't take long before we arrive at the southern territories.
The southern territories are cold – massively different from the other two regions. Endless snow and frozen mountains stretch out before us.
The landscape is stunning in its harshness – all white snow and dark stone, with ice formations that catch the light like diamonds. But beautiful doesn't make it any less deadly.
Well, not to us.
Anyways.
"NIMO," I call out, and my AI companion materializes in front of us with his usual cheerful demeanor.
"Hey there, Aiden! And congratulations on the engagement!" NIMO says, somehow managing to sound genuinely excited. "I can see that ring sparkling from here. Very nice choice!"
"Thanks, buddy. I need a map of the southern territories. Can you pull that up for me?"
"Absolutely!" A holographic map appears in the air between us, showing the vast expanse of the southern region.
According to Andrius, they're located in a temple called the Frozen Sanctum up in the highest mountain in the south. The map zooms in on the highest peak in the territory, and I can see a structure perched at the very top. That's got to be it.
"There it is – the Frozen Sanctum, right at the top of Mount Glacialis."
I study the map more carefully, noticing something different about this territory. Unlike the central and eastern regions, this place looks fragmented, divided into distinct sections.
"The southern territories are split into multiple tribes, each with their own ruling leaders," Irene explains, pointing to the various marked settlements scattered across the map. "It's completely different from the other territories."
"Kira and Jue only step in when there's a real threat to the territories as a whole."
That makes sense. I remember Andrius and Irene mentioning this before. Kira and her sentinel Jue don't actually rule this place directly like the other territorial leaders. They're more like guardians, staying out of tribal politics unless certain circumstances force them to intervene.
Once I've confirmed our destination, I gun the engine, and Fenrir tears through the snow like it's nothing. The bike's power is incredible, and even in these conditions, we're making excellent time toward Mount Glacialis where Kira and Jue await us at the Frozen Sanctum.
We pass through several tribal settlements, each one distinctly different from the last. Some have ice-carved buildings that gleam like crystal, while others are built into the mountainsides themselves. The diversity is impressive – each tribe has clearly developed their own unique culture and way of surviving in this harsh environment.
"Look at that," Irene says over the wind, pointing ahead.
As we approach the edge of Mount Glacialis, I can see another settlement coming into view.
"That must be the tribe that serves Jue," Irene said.
"While most tribes govern themselves, there is a singular tribe that is dedicated to serving Kira and Jue's interests."
As we get nearer to the settlement, I notice people starting to gather at the front of the town.
I bring Fenrir to a stop just outside the settlement's perimeter, and several figures approach us.
"Greetings, travelers," one of them says, bowing respectfully. "We welcome you to our settlement."
The others follow suit, offering the same respectful greeting. Their manner is formal but genuinely welcoming, which tells me they were probably expecting us or at least know why we're here.
"Kira-sama, has told us of your arrival. I assume you are here to take the trial."
I nod, dismounting from Fenrir. "That's right. We're here for the trial."
"Excellent," he says, gesturing toward the towering peak above us. "Kira-sama and Jue-sama are waiting for you at the top of the mountain, at the Frozen Sanctum."
"However," the leader adds, and I can already tell from his tone that there's a catch, "this is where the trial begins."
Of course it does. Nothing's ever simple.
"You are to travel to the top without any items or magic to use," he explains, his expression serious. "No weapons, no artifacts, no magical assistance of any kind. You must reach the Frozen Sanctum using only your own physical capabilities."
I glance at Irene, who looks as surprised as I was, and I can see the same thought in her eyes that's running through my mind. Looks like Kira and Jue don't really know our true abilities yet. This restriction is pretty much useless when you're dealing with people as strong as we are.
"Just to be clear," I say, trying to keep the amusement out of my voice, "we're talking about climbing that entire mountain with nothing but our bare hands?"
"That is correct," the leader confirms. "The trial tests not just your strength, but your determination and resourcefulness. Many have attempted this climb. Not all have succeeded."
Well, that's encouraging. I look up at the massive peak stretching high above us. For normal people, this would be an incredibly dangerous and difficult challenge. For us? It's basically a nice hike.
My strength alone could probably let me run up this mountain if I wanted to. And Irene's powers make her just as capable. They clearly don't have any idea what they're dealing with yet.
"When do we start?" I ask, already knowing this is going to be easier than they think.
"Whenever you are ready," the leader replies. "We will provide you with basic climbing gear, but remember – no magical enhancements or artifacts beyond what is necessary for safety."
I look at Irene and smile. "Ready for a romantic hike up a mountain, my love?"
She blushes softly, that beautiful smile spreading across her face. "With you? Always."
The tribe members step back, giving us space to begin our ascent. I take Irene's hand, feeling the cool metal of her engagement ring against my palm.
"You know," I say as we start walking toward the mountain path, "most couples go on dinner dates. We climb mountains for trials."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," she says, squeezing my hand gently. "This is so much better than sitting in some fancy restaurant."
"Even when it's freezing cold and we're about to climb a mountain that would kill most people?"
"Especially then." Her eyes sparkle with warmth despite the cold air around us. "Besides, you'll keep me safe."
I bring her hand up to my lips and kiss her knuckles softly. "Always, Irene. Always."
"Besides, I get to spend more time with my fiancée this way."
She smiles at that word – fiancée. I love how happy it makes her.
We begin our ascent together, and honestly, this feels more like a romantic walk than a dangerous trial.
As we continue up the mountain path, I realize the only thing that's actually annoying about this whole situation is how long this is taking. I could probably reach the top in minutes if I really pushed myself, but we're moving at this steady, deliberate pace.
But then again, maybe that's part of the trial too. Maybe they want to see if we have patience, if we can stick to the traditional way of doing things instead of just powering through everything.
Either way, Irene is with me, so I'm more than happy to take my time. There's something really nice about just walking together like this, hand in hand, without any rush or urgency.
"Look at that view," Irene says, stopping to admire the landscape spreading out below us.
I follow her gaze and have to admit it's pretty spectacular. The entire southern territories stretch out beneath us, with all those different tribal settlements visible as small clusters of buildings scattered across the snowy landscape.
"It's beautiful," I agree, but honestly, I'm more interested in watching her face as she takes it all in. The way her eyes light up when she sees something that amazes her never gets old.
We continue our leisurely climb, taking breaks to enjoy the scenery and each other's company.
Hours pass, and finally, we reach the summit of Mount Glacialis.
The Frozen Sanctum stands before us, and it's honestly more impressive than I expected. The temple is carved directly into the mountain's peak, with ice-covered spires that seem to reach toward the sky. Runic symbols are etched into the crystalline walls, glowing with a soft blue light that makes the entire structure look ethereal.
As we approach the entrance, I'm surprised to see someone already waiting for us. Kira stands at the temple doors, and there's a look of genuine surprise on her face as she sees us approaching.
"You're... already here," Kira says, and there's no hiding the shock in her voice. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow at the earliest."
"The climb wasn't too bad," I say casually, trying not to sound too smug about it.
Kira's eyes narrow slightly, and I can see her reassessing us. Even though we've met before, she's clearly realizing that we're much stronger than she initially thought.
"I see," she says slowly. "Perhaps I need to adjust my expectations about your capabilities."
"Anyway, congratulations on clearing the first part of the trial."
"Thanks," I reply. "So what's next?"
"The second and final part," Kira says, turning toward the temple entrance. "Come, let me take you inside to meet Jue. He's been waiting for you both."
She gestures for us to follow her through the massive doors. The interior of the Frozen Sanctum is even more impressive than the outside.
"The real trial begins now," Kira explains as we walk through the corridors. "What you just completed was more of a... screening process. We needed to see if you had the basic physical capabilities to even attempt what comes next."
"Jue designed this part himself," Kira continues. "He's quite eager to see how you both perform."
I glance at Irene, and she gives me an encouraging smile.
As we enter a large circular chamber, I see a massive creature waiting for us in the center.
An Eastern dragon.
"Welcome," Jue says, his voice deep and resonant with an almost musical quality that only dragons possess. He studies us both carefully, and I can feel the weight of his gaze analyzing everything about us. "So you are the ones who wish to seek residence for your people in this continent."
"That's us," I reply, stepping forward with Irene beside me. I can sense her slight tension – meeting dragons always brings back complicated memories for her. "Aiden, and this is Irene."
"I know who you are," Jue says, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Your reputations precede you both. Though I must admit, seeing you in person is... enlightening."
Kira moves to stand beside Jue. "They arrived much earlier than expected."
"Indeed." Jue's attention shifts to Irene, and his expression becomes more thoughtful. "Lady Irene Belserion. The Scarlet Despair. Your journey has been particularly... complex."
Irene inclines her head respectfully. "You honor me with your recognition."
"And you, Aiden Leonhart," Jue continues, turning his intense gaze to me. "The one who has been changing the balance of power across realms. Your strength is remarkable, but strength alone is not what we test here."
"What exactly are we testing then?" I ask, curious about what they have planned.
Jue gestures to the intricate symbols carved into the floor around us. "You have passed the trial of endurance. Now comes the trial of the heart."
"The heart?" Irene asks, her voice carrying a note of uncertainty.
"Indeed," Jue nods. "Physical strength can overcome many obstacles, but the true measure of a person lies in their spirit, their emotions, their deepest connections. This trial will test what matters most to you both."
Before I can ask what that means, the room begins to glow with an otherworldly light. The symbols carved into the floor start pulsing with energy.
"Face your past, confront your fears, and prove the strength of your bond," Jue explains as the light grows brighter. "Only then will you truly understand what it means to be worthy."
The light becomes blinding, and I feel myself being pulled away from Irene. I try to reach for her, but everything goes white.
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Irene blinked, finding herself standing in a place she recognized but hadn't seen in what felt like lifetimes. The familiar stone corridors of the royal palace stretched before her, unchanged from her memories. But something was different – she was different.
She looked down at her hands, smaller and more delicate than she remembered them being. Her reflection in a nearby mirror confirmed what she already suspected. She was young again, maybe sixteen or seventeen, with long crimson hair that cascaded down her back. This was her, but from before everything changed. Before the dragons. Before the magic. Before she became the Scarlet Despair.
"Princess Irene!" a voice called out, and she turned to see one of her old attendants rushing toward her. "Your mother wishes to see you in the throne room immediately."
Princess. The title felt strange after so long. She had been Princess Irene Belserion once, heir to a kingdom that no longer existed. A girl who knew nothing of dragon slaying magic or the horrors that would come to define her life.
Irene's heart clenched as the memories of this time flooded back. This was before the war with the dragons began. Before she learned the magic that would eventually consume her humanity. Before she lost everything she held dear.
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